AEW Collision Review – May 25, 2024
Kicking off this week’s Collision with Don Callis came out and entered the ring. He said he had something important to say and that he didn’t come out to cause any trouble. He added that he wanted to talk about their history together.
He said that on his 2nd night in the company, he cost Moxley the AEW World Title but that Moxley got his revenge. He threw to a clip from Dynamite on 3/29/23 when Moxley bloodied Callis.
He followed up with a clip from Dynamite on 5/10/23 when he turned on Kenny Omega which enabled Moxley to defeat him. He said that on that night, they changed the face of AEW.
Callis said that he thinks of Moxley every morning because when he looks in the mirror, he sees the 24 stitches that Moxley put his head. He added that for most people, that would be a deal breaker but they’re not like most people.
He told the story of the night he was in the ambulance after being bloodied, Moxley came in, put his hand on Callis’ shoulder and said you’re one of us now Callis said when he looked into Moxley’s eyes, he saw nothing, which is the same thing he sees when he looks into his own eyes.
He said the worst kept secret in wrestling is that he and Moxley are a lot alike. They both see everything but they feel nothing. They are high functioning sociopaths and professional wrestling has given them a platform to change the world and the business.
Callis said 30 years ago, they’d be in an institution but when Moxley told Callis he was one of them, he was right because they’re exactly alike. He said he had to help Moxley beat Omega but did not have to help Konosuke Takeshita beat Omega. He added he’s not out here to make threats but tomorrow night’s match is tearing him up and he doesn’t want it to happen. He said if they were on the same page, they’d be untouchable. He offered Moxley a spot in The Don Callis Family.
Moxley said he had one question. If they’re going to be able to trust each other, he’s going to need more of a commitment than the scar on Callis’ forehead. He asked if he could put 24 more stitches in Callis’ head right now.Takeshita attacked Moxley from behind. He first knocked Moxley out with a forearm, placed his arm into a steel chair and delivered a stomp from the 2nd rope. He continued to stomp on the arm until Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli made the save. Referees, Danielson & Castagnoli checked on Moxley.
A video aired recapping the Undisputed Kingdom bloodying Will Ospreay on Dynamite.
A bloody Ospreay was shown backstage after Dynamite. He asked if what happened was meant to scare him as he’s been through worse. He said that since his blood is now on the International Title, it’s his life mission to win it. He concluded that nobody is better than him because he’s on another level.
Trios Match
The Righteous (Vincent & Dutch) & Lance Archer vs. Claudio Castagnoli, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Daniel Garica
Claudio Castagnoli, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Daniel Garica held the early advantage before The Righteous & Lance Archer took over on offense after Garcia & Tanahashi were attacked while dancing and Castagnoli was unable to put Dutch in the giant swing as we go to a break.
After the break The Righteous & Archer worked over Garcia.
Archer knocked Castagnoli & Tanahashi off the apron to prevent the hot tag.
Garcia back suplexed Vincent and made the hot tag to Tanahashi.
Tanahashi got some moves in on Archer for a bit who eventually retaliated leading all 6 men to battle in the ring.
Castagnoli & Dutch battle on the floor while Garcia & Archer battled on the other side of the ring.
In the ring Tanahashi hit a sling blade on Vincent followed by High Fly Flow for the win.
Winners: Claudio Castagnoli, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Daniel Garica
A hype video for The Elite aired.
Tag Team Match
Trios Champions The Gunns (Austin & Coleton) vs. Lucha Bros (Pentagon Jr & Rey Fenix)
Both teams battled to start with Lucha Bros driving The Gunns from the ring with a pair of superkicks.
Lucha Bros missed superkicks on the floor allowing The Gunns to take over on Pentagon Jr in the ring.
They maintained this advantage through the picture in picture break.
After the break Pentagon made the hot tag to Fenix & he cleaned house.
All 4 men battled in the ring.
The Gunns went for 310 To Yuma on Fenix but were thwarted. Pentagon knocked Colten to the floor.
Lucha Bros hit a double team Fear Factor on Austin for the win.
Winners: Lucha Bros
A video aired recapping the events on Dynamite & Rampage between Hook, Chris Jericho & Katsuyori Shibata.
Arkady Aura was backstage with FTW Champion Chris Jericho & Big Bill. Aura asked if facing 2 opponents will change Jericho’s strategy. Bill said that if there’s one thing Jericho taught him is that when you’re faced with adversity in your darkest hour, you have to dig down deep to pull out the light. Jericho said Aura’s name sounded like a place you play video games. He added that he wasn’t expecting to have 2 opponents but after a 33 year career and having the longest For The World Title reign at 34 days, he’s confident he’ll get a victory because he’ll face all adversaries. Bryan Keith entered and said he missed his shot but assured Jericho that this wasn’t the last he’s seen of him. Keith walks away and Jericho said thanks Bryan.
Kyle O’Reilly vs. KM
Kyle O’Reilly grabs the arm bar for the tap out win.
Winner By Submission: Kyle O’Reilly
A video previewed the TBS Title match at Double Or Nothing.
TBS Champion Willow Nightingale came to the ring with Kris Statlander. She said it was great to be on Collision on the 5th anniversary of AEW and that you couldn’t have a Collision on TBS without the TBS Champion. She talked about last night’s Rampage and how Mercedes Mone put her hands on the title.
Nightingale also said that for the past 2 months she’s talked about the respect she has for Mone but we’re past respect now. She said that she was going to wreck Mone and make her wish she was still on the shelf. She added that she knows that championships come and go but she’ll be damned if tomorrow is the day that her title reign ends.
Nightingale said she’s had knee surgery and was almost paralyzed when she broke her neck 5 years ago. So now she gets to live her dream as the TBS Champion. She added that she’ll do anything to defend her title and that she’s just getting started.
She concluded by saying that Mone stated that Willow couldn’t beat her at 100% but Mone can’t beat Nightingale at any percent which was proven the last time they met. She ended by saying that she is the better woman.
Lexy Nair was backstage with Trent Beretta. Nair said that Beretta had momentum going into the match with Orange Cassidy and that the match was highly personal. She asked Beretta if Cassidy would suffer the same fate as Chuck Taylor. Beretta said that at Double or Nothing, the world would find out what Beretta already knew about Cassidy.
Rocky Romero interrupted and said that after the match, he hoped they could put this behind them because it’s the 5 year anniversary of AEW and they have a lot of memories together. Beretta said that won’t happen and told Romero not to interrupt him again.
Fatal 4 Way Tag Team Match
House Of Black (Buddy Matthews & Brody King) vs. Gates Of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona) vs. The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) vs. The Infantry (Carlie Bravo & Shawn Dean)
Toa Liona squaring off with Brody King before everyone ended up battling on the floor with King diving onto the pile as we headed into the picture in picture break.
After the break Buddy Matthews had the advantage on Max Caster.
Caster & The Infantry eventually teamed up to hit superkicks on House Of Black & Gates of Agony to drive them from the ring.
each team got some spots in and eventually The Acclaimed & Gates Of Agony brawled to the back leaving House Of Black & The Infantry in the ring.
King hits Cannonball in the corner on Dean for the win.
Winners: House Of Black
TNT Champion Adam Copeland cut a backstage promo which aired on the big screen with King and Matthews looking on. Copeland said that Malakai Black took the one item that kept him tethered to this world but that he’s been walking this path long before Black came along.
He spoke about Black bringing the devil back out of him with no angel to be found and that if Black defeats him and he joins the House Of Black, they would be an unstoppable force.
He also wondered if King & Matthews would join him in the House Of Blood if he defeated Black as they knew he was the devil. He concluded saying once you see evil in a man’s eyes, it’s already too late.
After the break A video recaps Serena Deeb attacking Toni Storm on Dynamite.
Women’s Champion Toni Storm cut a promo after Dynamite and said that this is for every person with a sad life who thinks they’re entitled to a reward.
She said nothing happens for a reason and if it did, there would be one main event at the pay per view and it would be her talking for 40 minutes while Deeb analyzed her words like a Zapuder film.
She said instead she has to fight a woman who thinks that twitching on the floor is a sign that she should keep wrestling. She said if Deeb wants to be the victim, they’ll make her victim and make her three seizures feel like a Sunday stroll in the park. She ended by saying that the saddest part of Deeb’s life is that Deeb thought it had any meaning at all.
Mariah May vs. Leyla Hirsch
Leyla Hirsch got a bit of offense in the beginning but Mariah May took over as we headed to a picture in picture break.
After the break it was primarily May on offense with Hirsch getting in some hope spots.
May hit a headbutt followed by a knee strike for the win.
Winner: Mariah May
Lexy Nair was backstage with Serena Deeb and asked her about Storm’s words from earlier. Deeb said Storm has had a lot of fun at her expense but it wasn’t funny when Storm had to throw the towel in to prevent Deeb from snapping Mariah May’s leg. She said she would stretch Storm limb from limb and become the new Women’s Champion. She referred to Storm as Time Is Up Toni Storm and said she would see her tomorrow.
A video hyped the AEW World Title match.
Trios Match
FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) & Bryan Danielson vs. Satnam Singh, Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal
Bryan Danielson started off with Jeff Jarrett before FTR & Danielson worked over Jay Lethal before Satnam Singh pulls Cash Wheeler out of the ring and chops him as we go to a break.
After the break Jarrett, Singh & Lethal still had Wheeler in the ring but Wheeler made the hot tag to Dax Harwood & he cleaned house.
Jarrett, Singh & Lethal regained the advantage when Harwood was running off the ropes and Singh chops him from the outside.
Jarrett, Singh & Lethal worked over Harwood and at one point as Lethal & Jarrett sat at ringside while Singh did the damage in the ring.
Wheeler hit a double ax handle on Singh to stop Singh from applying the Iron Claw on Harwood. Singh threw Wheeler out of the ring but Harwood was able to make the hot tag to Danielson.
Danielson cleaned house on Jarrett and locked him the LeBell lock which was broken up by Lethal. Danielson & Wheeler dove onto Lethal and Jarrett on the floor.
Singh missed a charge and Harwood sent him into the steps then in the ring FTR & Danielson took turns kicking Singh.
FTR hits FTR Trigger on Singh and Danielson followed up with Busaiku Knee before Lethal hits a double Lethal Injection on FTR. Danielson hit Lethal with a clothesline.
Danielson block The Stroke by Jarrett. Jarrett sent Danielson into the 2nd turnbuckle.
Karen Jarrett slid the guitar in but referee Aubrey Edwards intercepted it and argued with Karen.
With Edwards distracted Jarrett went to hit Danielson with a chair but missed and hit Singh knocking him out of the ring.
Danielson hits Busaiku knee on Jarrett while FTR hits Shatter Machine on Lethal for the win.
Winners: FTR & Bryan Danielson
After the match FTR cut a pro AEW promo talking about the history of the company and why they fight for it. Wheeler said he’ll be in AEW forever while Harwood talked about how he fights for all the fans that go to work and have bad days and dead-end jobs. He said that for 1 hour, 2 hours or 3 hours, he gets to be their hero and make their problems go away when they watch the show. He ended with Top guys out.
